Russia's Interior Ministry has announced a reward of 1 million rubles ($16,124) for tips leading to the arrest of a businessman in the Moscow region city of Krasnogorsk who went on a killing spree Monday.
The whereabouts of Amiran Georgadze, who was added to a federal wanted list on Tuesday, are still unknown, the ministry said Tuesday in an online statement.
Georgadze on Monday afternoon reportedly gunned down two people — the first deputy mayor of the city of Krasnogorsk, Yury Karaulov, and the head of the local electric company, Georgy Kotlyarenko.
A third person, a local resident, was killed while Georgadze and his driver were on the run, the Moscow region branch of the Investigative Committee said in an online statement.
During a raid of Georgadze's home later on Monday, investigators found a fourth body belonging to the shooter's business partner, Tristan Zakaidze, the TASS news agency reported, citing Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin.
The driver, Shota Elizbarashvili, turned himself in on Tuesday morning, bringing with him the vehicle that was used to flee the initial crime scene, the Investigative Committee said in an online statement.
In the Range Rover, investigators found a large bag containing a silencer, more than 30 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition, a Kalashnikov automatic rifle, a traumatic weapon, handcuffs and Scotch tape, the statement said.
Georgadze had simultaneously fired at the officials with two weapons "like a professional gangster," Markin told LifeNews on Tuesday.
According to an unidentified source working in law enforcement, Georgadze, a local businessman working in construction, had earlier demanded $20 million dollars in "compensation" from some of the victims, the Interfax news agency reported.
Media on Monday reported Georgadze may have committed the murders as revenge for not being allocated government construction contracts.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.